Tom scrambled into the big plane. Looking back only long enough to see Bud inside and hauling up the ramp, which also served as door, he continued straight through the empty cargo space into the pilot’s compartment. Leaping into the seat, he fired the starter and pushed the throttle forward. The jet engines thundered into action. Without losing a second, Tom gunned the plane out across the water and it rose into the air.
As he headed the plane southward, Tom looked
84 TOM SWIFT AND HIS ROCKET SHIP
down and saw a jet seaplane taking off. He opened up all three engines and the plane sped along on its course.
“Before that interceptor can catch up to us, we’ll be back in civilization,” Tom thought hopefully.
A sudden cry from the cargo space snapped the young pilot out of his musing.
“Tom! Tom!” he heard Bud calling faintly.
Putting the plane on automatic pilot, Tom started back to see what was wrong. When he reached the rear of the cargo space, he stared in horror. Bud’s arm was trapped in the loading door.
A strong wind could tear the door off and blow his friend out!
Tom started forward to extricate Bud’s arm when a blast of gunfire ripped into the starboard wing.
“Don’t let ‘em get us!” Bud pleaded.
“But your arm-” Tom said.
‘Til-hold on-”
Torn between anxiety for his friend and the immediate urgency to escape, Tom paused for a split second. But another burst of fire sent him racing back to the pilot’s seat, where he took over the controls. The pursuing jet was riding the freighter’s tail!